Calling from the Mist

Omega

Misty couldn’t stay in the rehab centre with all of those eyes watching her every move, so she turned and swiftly walked back to the break room with Jake in tow.

“What the hell is going on, why were there exotic animals in there!” Misty had so many questions and didn’t really know where to start so she decided to start with the obvious. The animals.

Jake had closed the door softly, moving slowly as if Misty was a caged animal in panic, the thought seemed to calm her as she flopped down on the sofa with a sigh. Jake strode forward, graceful in his movements that utterly captivated Misty.

“They are Lost Ones; Shifters that are unable to return from their animal forms,” Jake spoke so seriously as if he had not just turned Misty’s entire world upside down. She was about to open her mouth, yell at him for being a weirdo and making up stories when a thought crossed her mind.

Those eyes weren’t animalistic in the least.

“What is an Omega?” Misty spoke quietly, her dark brown eyes bore into Jake’s own gaze with an unwavering intensity. She needed answers and panicking would do no good.

The beautiful man kneeled down in front of Misty causing her to jump slightly in shock, looking around but already knowing that they were completely alone. She was about to say something, telling him to get up when Jake spoke.

“I should start with another question if that is alright with you, O Sacred One.” Jake’s voice was deep and gravelly, causing Misty to shiver at the strange familiarity. She wasn’t exactly fearful, but she definitely scoffed at the nickname.

“Don’t call me that, It’s Misty... “ She answered with a perturbed tone, this was just too ridiculous. “Also get off the floor, please?”

Misty went to stand, watching as Jake followed suit. She shuffled over to the ancient coffee machine and went to work brewing up a new pot for the two of them. They had a lot to talk about and caffeine was desperately needed.

As the coffee sputtered to life and filled the room with its delicious aroma, Misty took a seat at the table and gestured for Jake to do the same. He nodded, sitting down gracefully and causing Misty to grumble at how easy he made everything look.

“You’re like a damn cat or something!” She shook her head with a sigh, only to hear an unexpected sound come from her companion.

“Well, you aren’t wrong. I am a cat, a panther to be exact.” Jake crossed his hands and placed them on the table as he answered, just as clearly and straightforward as earlier.

Misty was dumbfounded. Was everything she knew about the world a lie? People could be animals?! 

“If you’re telling me the truth then prove it!” Misty crossed her arms over her ample chest, noticing how the gesture caught Jake’s eye before he looked down and away quickly. Interesting.

“I cannot shift in your presense, it would be the highest offense to you O Sacred- I mean, Misty,” Jake answered, frowning slightly before seemingly coming to a realization and turning to finally look at Misty again. “But I can do this.”

Jake’s vivid green eyes seemed to begin to glow, his pupils morphing from round, human ones to oval-shaped ones that a cat would have. Misty was surprised, yet she didn’t feel fearful in the least. 

“Why am I not afraid of you?” She asked as soon as the question popped into her head. In fact, she wasn’t just unafraid but now actively fighting to reach out and touch the man in front of her.

Jake’s eyes reverted to their previous state as he smiled softly, the gesture making him even more heart-wrenchingly beautiful. He stood up, moving to the coffee machine and pouring out two cups before finally speaking.

“You are the Sacred Omega, revered and cherished by all Shifters. You recognize that I would never, ever hurt you. In fact, I am tasked to protect you, serve your needs until our King arrives.” Jake spoke so assuredly it almost put Misty at ease, well, until that last part. “How would you like your coffee?”

“Black, I don’t think they have any honey for me anymore. What do you mean ‘until the King arrives’?” Misty answered Jake’s question without a second thought, she really didn’t sense anything bad coming from this mysterious stranger. But her questions just kept piling up more and more rather than being answered.

“Our King is the Ruler over all Shifters. The most powerful and feared Lycan in the land. He is a force to be reckoned with and all who reside under him submit without question.” Jake spoke clearly as she strode back to the table with two cups in his hands and returned to his seat.

Misty leaned forward to take her coffee, bringing it to her nose and inhaling the scent. What Jake had just said rattled her, a sting of fear pulsating in her mind as she tried to keep her calm.

“Why is he coming here?” Misty finally spoke, taking a sip of her coffee and letting it burn slightly as it went down. She feared the answer that popped into her head.

“For you Misty, you are his fated mate.”

That was it.

“Nope! I can’t do this anymore!” Misty snapped, putting her mug on the table and standing up, moving towards the door with sure steps and needing to get out, to run away.

She knew it was cowardly, not staying to hear everything out. She wanted a full explanation but also, she had just been told that a stranger was coming for her?! To what, capture and enslave? Someone that could not be denied?!

“Misty, where are you going?” Jake was walking close behind, not moving to touch or stop her. It was obvious he had taken up a bodyguard role, which also meant he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

“Home, not home, I don’t know!” Misty cried out as she picked up the pace and finally raced out of the front door. “I need to not be here! I’m going back to the city!”

“You can’t leave.”

Misty stopped dead in her tracks and looked up, no longer trying to find her keys within her bag. There were a dozen or so people standing in the parking lot, watching her with a look on their faces she was quickly coming to recognize. Curiosity and reverence, as if she was some sort of celebrity.

The person who spoke stepped forward, someone Misty recognized immediately as her eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Mayor Wilson? What the… What is going on!” Misty grit her teeth, looking over each person and recognizing them all. But it wasn’t until someone more familiar than the rest stepped forward that Misty realized that life that she knew was over. 

“Mom?”

It all made sense now. Misty always thought her upbringing was strange, lonely in a way that wasn’t just due to her teenage hormones. She almost didn’t mind being teased at school since it was the only time anyone paid attention to her. But now? The entire town was in on this mystery apparently, and the fact that her own mother was involved broke Misty’s heart.

She turned towards the mountain treeline behind the animal centre and with tears in her eyes Misty took off running.

~